Industrial RFID for Airline Catering

Chances are the last time you flew, you found yourself on board a small 50-seat commuter jet. Airlines are using this type of aircraft to address the high cost of jet fuel while trying to offer as much scheduling flexibly to their customers as possible. On long, intercontinental routes, airlines are using a different strategy to keep costs in check.  The Airbus A380, the world's largest superjumbo carries as many as 800 passengers –depending on configuration – over the longest possible distances. 

This results in logistics challenges, and RFID systems are part of the solution.  Distributing multiple meals to that many people takes planning and verification.  Specifically in case of the A380, a new, high-speed inductive oven has been developed that not only reduces the time it takes to heat the food, it also does it in a more automated way.  Food trays containing RFID chips tell the oven how much heat is needed.  This is good for the customer since food is neither cold nor overcooked.  Airlines benefit from more efficient usage of the ovens, freeing up valuable space for seats that could be sold to passengers.